Automatic damper-regulator.



N0. 632.3. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

J. J. ROY. AUTOMATIC DAMPER REGULATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

3 Sheets-:Shee; 1.

(No Model.)

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Pat ented Sept. 5, I899.

11. 1. nuv. Auroumc DAMPER REGULATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

(I10 Modal.)

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No. 632,371. Patented Sept. 5, I899.

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AUTOMATIC DAMPER REGULATOR.

7 (Application filed Apr. 29, 1899.) (Id Modal.) A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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@ fmm UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN J. ROY, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC DAM PER-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,371, datedSeptember 5, 1899.

Application filed April 29, 1899.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. ROY, acitizen of the United States, and aresident of Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticDamper-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

The automatic damper-regulators now in general use with which the mostsatisfactory results are attained are those in which a hydraulic motoris employed to move the damper. These motors are usually of the pistontype, the supply and exhaust to which are regulated by thepressure-lever and the motive power of which is generally the citywater-supply, or if that is not available the wa-. tor-pressure foroperating the motor is secured by an overhead tank or by a condenserfrom the boiler. These damper-regulators although operating in a fairlysatisfactory manner when in perfect working order are yet subject tovarious defects which it is my object to correct. Some of these defectsare as follows: The motor must be carefully and accurately made and istherefore expensive. It is subject to considerable wear, and thepackings in time become worn and must be replaced. The piston or theregulating valves are liable to stick and leak, in which case the resultis imperfect regulation and waste of water. The Whole apparatus,moreover, requires considerable care and attention and occasionalreadjustment.

The object of my invention is to produce a damper-regulator which ischeaper to construct, is much more simple and economical in itsoperation, and which is very unlikely to get out of order. I accomplishthis object by providing a damper-regulator which operates on a new andentirely different principle from those previously constructed.

According to my invention I provide a closed chamber or condenser whichis connected at its upper portion to a point in the boiler-which isaboye the water-level therein and is connected at its lower portion to apoint below the water-level of the boiler or a water-chamber underboiler-pressure, so that the first-mentioned connection will alwayssupply steam, While the latter will always supply water, to the chamber.I further provide a vah e in the steam-pipe which is automat- Serial No.714,942. (No model.)

ically opened and closed according to the variations in pressure in theboiler. The opening and closing of this valve will automatically varythe water-levelin the closed chamher-thatis, when the steam-pipe is openthe water in the chamber will flow by gravity back into the boiler andwhen the steampipe is closed the steam in the chamber will condense,allowing the steam-pressure in the boiler to force the water into thechamber. In connection with this chamber I provide suitable means forvarying the position of the damper according to the variations of thewater-level in the closed chamber.

The motor which I use to operate the damper and which forms theprincipal part of my invention difiers from all other motors for thispurpose, which are operated either directly or indirectly by variationsin the boilerpressure, in that it practically has no exhaustthat is, ifit can be said'to have any exhaust at all the exhaust is back into theboiler. In all other damper-motors the exhaust is either into a chamberwhich has a lower pressure than the boiler or source of pressure or toatmosphere-pressure. For this reason while in all other devices of thisgeneral character there is considerable loss of water and heat in mydevice there is no loss of water and but little loss of heat.

invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a preferred form of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section of a compensating device.Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section of a modification which I may useunder certain conditions. Fig. et'is a section on the line a; a ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a partial cross-section in elevation on the line y yof Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of a modification.

In the drawings a small portion of the boiler is indicated at 1, thenormal water-line therein being indicated by the line a a. A steam-pipe2 is connected to the top of the boiler and has a branch pipe 3, whichis carried under the. usual pressure-diaphragm 4, which is held down bythe usual weighted pressure-lever 5. All of these parts are too wellknown to require further description. A valve 6 is interposed in thesteam-pipe 2 For a more complete understanding of my i beyond the branch3. This valve may be of any well-known form; but I prefer a form ofsliding gate-valve, such as is shown, for example, in the drawings. Thestem 6 of this valve is connected by a link 7 to a rider 8 on thepressure-lever, so that when the lever is in its lowest position thevalve will be fully open and when the lever is in its highest positionthe valve will be closed. The steampipe 2 continues beyond the valve 6and is connected to the hollow standard 9, as is shown in dotted linesin Fig. 4. The waterpipe 10 is connected to the boiler below. thewater-level and is connected to the hollow standard 11. These standards9 and 11 are placed a short distance from each other and have openings 9and 11, respectively, in their inner sides, which communicate with thepassages 9 and 11" therethrough. Pipes 12 and 13 are screwed into saidports and are connected at their opposite ends to tube 14, the jointstherebetween being any common form of stuffing-box 15 15 which permitthe ready rotation of said tube 14 with respect to pipes 12 and 13, yetpreventing any leakage at these points. Tube 14 is provided with apartition 16 at one side of the middle thereof, forming steam and waterchambers 14 and 14", respectively, therein. A water-pipe 10 is connectedto chamber 14" at a point near the middle of tube 14 and extendshorizontally and at right angles thereto. A steampipe 2 is connected tosteam-chamber 14 and extends vertically, then horizontally in line withtube 14, then at right angles in the same vertical plane as pipe 10.Pipe 10 is extended a sufficient distance to form a lever of the desiredlength and is connected to the bottom of a closed chamber or condenser17 which in this view is shown in the form of a hollow ball or sphere.Although this particular form is not essential, as it might be made inthe form of a coil of pipe or any other form in which steam willcondense with sufficient readiness, yet I prefer this form in view ofthe fact that it may be readily and completely drained and also becauseit condenses the steam at the most desirable rate. The steam-pipe 2 isconnected to the top of chamber 17 and an air-cock 18 is provided atthis point, which is opened to permit the escape of air in the chamber17 and pipes 10' and 2 when the apparatus is started up. A wire yoke 19is adjustably secured to waterpipe 10, the particular point at which itis secured being determined when the apparatus is set up. This yoke 19passes on each side of pipe 2 and ends in a loop 19','to which a chainor cable 20 is attached. This cable passes over suitable pulleys 21 andpasses downwardly and is connected to a rod 22, which carries a weight22, the lower end of said rod being connected to the operatingarm 23 ofthe damper by a chain 23.

24 indicates the flue, and 25 the damper, I

which is shown in the half-open position, at which time arm 23 ishorizontal. A straight spring 26, which is suitably mounted at one end,is connected at its opposite end to the rod 22, said spring beingprovided with a longitudinal slot 26, which is engaged by the pin 22 onrod 22. This spring 26 is connected to rod 22 at such a point that itwill be straight or not under tension when the parts are in theirintermediate position. The

particular form of spring shown is not essen-' tial, though I considerthis form the most desirable.

As is usual with devices of this character, the apparatus is set tomaintain the boilerpressure at a certain point, which may be called thenormal pressure. When the pressure is normal, the parts will all be intheir intermediate; position. lever will be about horizontal, at whichpoint the port in valve 6 will be opened sufficiently to allow a slightescape of steam past the same into thechamber 17, so that steam will besupplied to the top of said chamber as fast as it condenses therein. Thechamber 17 will then be partially filled with water-as, for example, tothe point shown in Fig. 1, at which point the weights on rod 22 willlift the chamber, together with the pipes 10 and 2, to the middleposition oftheir travel, these parts swinging on the pipes 12 and 13 asa pivot. At this point the damper will be about half open.

The device as thus far described operates as follows: If theboiler-pressure should fall below the normal, the pressure-lever 5 willimmediately'drop, opening the steam-valve 6 and causing the pressure inthe upper part of chamber 17 to be raised to boiler-pressure. Theboiler-pressure will then no longer sustain the water in the chamber, asthe pressure on the surface of the water is as great as the pressurewhich tends to sustain it, and the water will flow back into the boilerby gravity. This will relieve the weight of water in the chamber, sothat the weight 22 on the rod 22 will draw up the chamber 17, and thecorresponding sinking of the rod 22 will permit the weightedoperating-arm 23 of the damper 25 to move the latter toward itsfullyopen position. This movement will be gradual, as the steam in thetop of chamber 17 will not be brought to boiler-pressure immediately,and the flow of Water out of the chamber will not therefore be rapid. Ifthe boilerpressure should be raised above the normal,

The pressure the pressure-lever would be lifted by thepressure-diaphragm, wholly closing the steamweight 22' on the rod 22,lifting arm 23 andclosing the damper. This motion will also be gradual,owing to the gradual condensation of the steam, so that the damper willnot be too fully opened or closed upon slight variations inboiler-pressure.

Special means for facilitating condensation in chamber 17 may be used;but in practice such means have not been found desirable, as too rapidcondensation would cause imperfect regulation.

The spring 26 is provided to obstructthe apparatus from moving thedamper too suddenly to its extreme positions, the spring being arrangedso that it will not be under tension or affect the operation of theapparatus when the parts are in their normal or intermediate positions,but will immediately act to return them to their intermediate positionsupon movement thereof to either extreme position. The strength of thisspring is necessarily not sufficient to prevent the parts from going totheir extreme positions; but it is sufficient to prevent sudden orextreme fluctuations in the position of the parts, therefore aidingmaterially in maintaining a uniform pressure in the boiler.

I provide also an additional means for aiding the above-describedapparatus in maintaining a uniform pressure, which consists of thecompensating device shown in detail in Fig. 2. This device consists of atube 27 and a post 28, each of which is secured to a common base 29,which latter is adjustably secured to the pressure-lever 5. A spring 30is adj ustably secured to the lower end of tube 27, the particular meansshown being a pin 31, to which the end of the spring is secured, aseries of holes 32 being provided, in any one of which the pin 31 may beplaced. The upper end 30' of spring 30 is annealed and straightened andpasses up through a disk 33, which rests on top of the coiled portion ofthe spring 30, and through the cap 34 on top of the tube. A loop 35 isformed at the end of the wire, to which a chain 36 is secured. Theopposite end of this chain is secured to the pipe 10 by means of asliding clip 37. A second spring 38 is secured to the under side of cap34 and has a disk 39 secured to'the lower end thereof, this being alsoperforated to permit the passage of wire 30. The post 28 has a bolt 40screwed in the top thereof, and a lock-nut 41 on said bolt prevents thesame from turning- A clip 42, having a projection42, is carried by pipe10' in such a position as to engage the head of bolt 40 in certainpositions of the parts. The operation of this attachment is as follows:As previously explained, when the boiler-pressure drops thepressure-lever will drop and the chamber 17 and its lever arm or pipe 10will swing up. The chain 36 is of such a length that it will be taut andpulling on the spring 30 Very slightly when the pipe 10 and chamber 17are in their middle positions. Upon the lowering of lever 5 andconsequent further upward movement of pipe 10 the spring 30 willbe'stretched, and as this spring is very weak there will be a slightupward pull on lever 5, which tends to restore it to its horizontal ornormal position and tends to close steam-valve 6, so that the steam-willnot flow too rapidly into the top of chamber 17, thereby causing thewater to flow too rapidly from the chamber and opening the damper toowide. If, however, the pressure is not restored to the normal, the valve6 will be opened wider, causing the pipe 10' to swing up'higher untilthe two disks .33 and 39 come into contact. When these disks come intocontact, the tension on the chain 36 will be about doubled, so thatthere will be a much stronger tendency to return the pressure-lever 5 toits horizontal position and nearly close valve 6, and unless theboiler-pressure has dropped very considerably, which will probably occuronly when the fire is not receiving proper attention, the lever 5 wouldbe pulled up, nearly closing valve 6 by the time pipe 10 had swung up toits'highest position. By this means the parts are made to recover muchmore quickly than if some such means were not present-that is, if thedamper were allowed to remain open too long and not become closed untilthe pressure reached the normal the fire would have gained too great aheadway to be stopped at once by the partial or entire closing of thedamper, and the result would be that the pressure would be raised abovethe normal. If the pressure should be raised above the normal, lever 5would be raised, totally closing valve 6 and causing chamber 17 and pipe10 to swing down. The bolt 40 is adjusted so that projection 42 willstrike the head thereof when the pipe 10 has nearly reached its lowestor horizontal position. The result will then be to lower thepressure-lever so that the valve 6 is slightly opened, causing some ofthe water to flow from the chamber and the damper to be slightly openedand the parts to be placed in such a position that the damper will beimmediately opened still further when the fire is checked and thepressure reduced. Although these compensating devices are not whollynecessary to the attainment of satisfactory results with my device, theyadd materially to the efficiency thereof.

In localities where the water which must be used in the boiler is dirtyand would be liable to deposit sediment in chamber 17 and clog the pipesI provide the device shown in Fig. 3. This device consists of a closedchamber 43, preferably of spherical form, having a pipe 2 connected tothe bottom thereof and passing upwardly to nearly the top thereof. Thispipe 2 is connected to the steam-pipe 2, so that steam only will besupplied to chamber 43. A pipe 10 is connected to the top of chamber 43and passes downwardly nearly to the bottom thereof. This pipe 10" isconnected to standard 11 and water-pipe 10 is discarded. The result ofthis arrangement is that a trap is interposed between the bottom ofchamber 17 and the steam-space of the boiler when the chamber 43 isfilled with water. It is essential, as will hereinafter appear, that thecapacity of the chamber or trap 43 be at least equal to the capacity ofchamber 17. The operation is as follows: Steam will condense in chamber43 and fill the same to the top of pipe 2 and the surplus water ofcondensation will flow back into the boiler. This chamber 43 will thenact with respect to the water-pipe 10 and chamber 17 precisely the sameas the main boiler-that is, the steam-pressure in the top of chamber 43will force the water up into chamber 17 and when the pressure in chamber17 is raised to boilerpressure the water will flow back into chamber 43and thence into the boiler. By this means only water of condensationwill be used in the apparatus, such Water of course being entirely freefrom sediment. With this arrangement it will also be observed that Idispense with one of the pipe connections to the boiler and operate thedamper by one pipe connection alone, this connection being made abovethe Water-line or to the steam-space 0f the boiler. The result ofconnecting the bottom of chamber 17 with the steam-space of theboiler bymeans of a pipe which is sealed by a trap therein and which has acapacity equal that of chamber 17 is the same, so far as the practicaloperation is concerned, as if the pipe which is connected to the bottomof chamber 17 were connected to the boiler below the water-line, as inFig. 1. The essential point is that the steam-pressure must always forcewater in at the bottom of the chamber. To do this, the pipe whichconnects the steamspace with the bottom of the chamber must bewater-sealed, but the particular way in which it is water-sealed is notmaterial. A drain-cock 44 maybe provided in the bottom of chamber 43, ifdesired.

The apparatus above described possesses numerous advantages notpossessed by prior devices used for this purpose. It is much lesscomplicated,and thereforemuch more cheaply constructed. There are nointernal parts which require adjustment, readjustment, and renewal, andit is never necessary'to take it apart to clean it. It is veryinexpensive to run.,as there is no waste of water as in those having anindependent motor, all water used in my motor being returned to theboiler at nearly boiler temperature, and the loss of heat bycondensation in chamber 17 is so small as to be hardly worthy ofconsideration. The use of a single valve only is necessary, and thisbeing a steam-valve is worn comparatively little, and even if it shouldbecome worn so as to leak to some extent it would not affect theoperation of the apparatus. There is nothing to wear or get out oforder, as the only points at which there is any friction, aside from thevalve 6, is at the stut'fing-boxes 15 15, and the leverage afforded bythe pipe 10 is so great that there will not be any danger of sticking atthese points. Any wellknown flexible joint other than those shown at 1515 may be substitutedas, for instance, a flexible pipe which will not beaffected by the high temperature and pressure of the fluid which it mustcontain.

My invention is capable of Various other modifications, one of which Iillustrate in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In this figure, 45 indicates aclosed chamber of any suitable form, preferably cylindrical, as shown,to the bottom of which is connected the water-pipe 10 and to the top ofwhich is connected the steam-pipe 2. These pipes are connected to theboiler at points below and above the water-level therein, respectively,and correspond to pipes 10 and 2 of Fig. 1. A float 46, which is ofnearly the same diameter as the chamber, is placed therein and isconnected to a rod 19% which passes up through a stuffing-box 47 on theupper side of the chamber. The rod 19 is connected to the cable 20'inthe same manner as the yoke 19 of Fig. 1. The float 46 will be suitablyweighted either by weights placed in the float or, preferably, byWeights hung on the stem 19 in any well-known manner, it being necessaryonly that the stem 19 be weighted sufliciently to lift the arm 23 of thedamper when the float is not sustained by water in the chamber 45. Thedamper arrangement which maybe used in connection with this modificationis substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1, with the exceptionthat the damper must be located atright angles to the position shown infull lines in said figure. The operation is as follows: When thepressure in the boiler falls,the pres sure-lever will fall, opening thesteam-valve 6, as before, and permitting the steam to be discharged intothe top of chamber 45, raising the pressure therein to boiler-pressure,so that the water in the chamber will fl'ow out through pipe 10 backinto the boiler. The float 46 will then no longer be sustained by thewater in the chamber, but will sink, 0pening the damper. When theboiler-pressure increases above the normal, the Valve 6 will be closed,allowing the steam to condense in the top of the chamber 45, so that thepressure in the boiler will force water into the chamber in the samemanner as described with ref erence to Fig. 1. The float on beingpartially submerged will be lifted, allowing the arm 23 on the damper todrop, closing the damper.

Various other methods of operating the damper by varying the amount ofwater in a chamber or condenser which is connected to the boiler by twopipes, one of which is connected to the steam-space thereof and theother of which is water sealed either by the water in the boiler or byan interposed trap, may be employed; but I consider all of such methodswithin the scope of my invention.

Although I have described my invention with special reference to the useof it as applied to the damper of a boiler, yetthe same device mayobviously be used to regulate the position of any other regulatingmeans. For instance, in the case of boilers usinga liquid IIO fuel, aspetroleum, my device may be applied to the valve which controls thesupply of the fluid to the boiler.

The term valve as used in the claims is intended to include any meansfor controlling the draft or fuel-supply of the boiler.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A valve-regulator for boilers, consisting of a closed chamber, asteam-pipe connecting said chamber with the steam -space of the boiler,means for automatically controlling the passage of steam through saidpipe, a water-sealed pipe connecting said chamber and the boiler, saidchamber being located above the water-level of the water seal, and meanscontrolled by the weight of water in said chamber for varying theposition of the valve.

2. A valveregulator for boilers consisting of a closed chamber orcondenser, a steampipe connecting said chamber and the steamspace of theboiler, a water-sealed pipe connecting said chamber and the boiler,means for automatically controlling the passage of steam through saidsteam-pipe and means controlled by the weight of water in said chamberfor varying the position of the valve.

3. A valve-regulator for boilers, consisting of a closed chamber, asteam-pipe and a watersealed pipe connected thereto, said steam-pipebeing connected to said chamber at a point above which said water-sealedpipe is connected, and to the steam-space of the boiler, saidwater-sealed pipe being connected to the boiler, means for regulatingthe flow of steam through said steam-pipe, and means controlled bytheweight of water in said chamber for varying the position of said valve.

4. A valve-regulator for steam-boilers, conble joint in said pipespermitting vertical movement of said chamber, said steam-pipe beingconnected to the steam-space in the boiler, and said water-sealed pipebeing connected to the boiler, means for regulating the passage of steamthrough said steam-pipe, and connections between said chamber and thevalve whereby upon vertical movement of the chamber the valve will beopened or closed.

5. A valve-regulator for steam-boilers consisting of a closed chamber,apivoted arm carrying said chamber, connecting said chamber with thesteam-space of the boiler, a watersealed pipe connecting said chamberand the boiler, a pressure-lever, means for varying the position thereofaccording to the boilerpressure, means operated by said pressureleverfor controlling the passage of steam through said steam-pipe, meansconnected to said chamber for varying the position of said valve andmeans arranged between said pivoted arm and said pressure-lever which incertain positions of said arm will tend to move 1 said pressure-lever inthe direction in which said arm is moved.

6. A valve-regulator for boilers consisting of a pressu re-lever, meansfor varying the position of said lever according to the boiler pressure,an arm pivoted adjacent to said lever, connections between said arm andthe valve, means controlled by said lever for varying the position ofsaid arm, said parts being arranged so that said arm and said lever willalways tend to swing in opposite directions, a spring connection betweensaid arm and said lever, whereby said arm will tend to return said leverto its middle position when said arm is swinging in one direction, and aprojection carried by said arm which is adapted to engage said lever incertain positions of said arm, when said arm is swinging in the oppositedirection.

7. A valve-regulator for boilers consisting of a pressure-lever, meansfor varying the position of said lever according to the boilerpressure,an arm pivoted adjacent to said 1ever, connections between said arm andthe valve, means controlled by said lever for varying the position ofsaid arm, said parts being arranged so that said arm and saidlever willalways tend to swing in opposite directions, a spring connection betweensaid arm and said lever, whereby said arm will tend to return said leverto its middle position when said arm is swinging in one direction, asecond spring arranged in the path of said firstnamed spring and adaptedto be engaged thereby upon extreme movement of said arm, and aprojection carried by said arm which is adapted to engage said'lever incertain positions of said arm, when said arm is swinging in the oppositedirection.

8. A valve-regulator for steam-boilers, consisting of a closed chamber,a pivoted arm carrying said chamber, steam and water-sealed pipesconnected respectivelyto the upper and lower portions of said chamber,said steampipe being connectedto the steam-space of the. boiler and saidwater-sealed pipe being open to boiler-pressure beyond the water sealand to thesteam-space of the boiler, flexible joints in said pipespermitting vertical movement of said chamber, connections between saidchamber and said valve for moving said valve axes of which are in thesame line, whereby said chamber may swing about said line as an axis,connections between said joints and the boiler, saidsteam-pipe beingconnected to the steam-space of the, boiler, and said water-sealed pipebeing open to boiler-pressure beyond the water seal, connections betweensaid chamber and the valve whereby upon movement of the former, therewill be a corresponding movement of the latter, and means forautomatically varying the flow of steam through said steam-pipe.

10. A valve-regulator for boilers consistin g of a chamber 17, asteam-pipe connecting the upper portion thereof with the boiler at apoint above the water-line therein, a

chamber 43, a pipe connected to the boiler at a point above thewater-line therein and opening into said chamber 43 near the topthereof, a pipe connected to said chamber 43 at a point near the bottomthereof, said lastmentioned pipe being also connected to the lowerportion of said chamber 17 means for automatically regulating the flowof steam through said steam-pipe, and means varied by the weight ofwater in said chamber 17 for varying the position of said valve.

11. A valve-regulator for boilers, consisting of a closed chamber, asteam-pipe 2, a Water-pipe 10 connected respectively to the top andbottom thereof, a pair of pipes 12 v and 13 arranged adjacent to eachother, a single pipe 14 having a flexible connection with each of saidpipes 12 and 13, the axes of said connections being in the same straightline, a partition dividing said pipe 1 L into two chambers, 14, 14",said pipe 10 being connected to chamber 14" and said pipe 2 to chamber14, a water-sealed pipe 10 connecting pipe 13 to the boiler, a pipe 2connecting pipe 12.to the boiler at a point above the water-leveltherein, means for automatically varying the passage of steam throughsaid pipe 2, and a connection between said closed chamber and the valvefor varyingthe position of the latter as the chamber rises and falls.

12. In an automatic damper-regulator for boilers, anautomatically-operated motor for varying the position of said damper, aconnection between said motor and damper, a straight spring having oneend supported at a fixed point and its opposite end connected to saidconnection at such a point that the spring will be straight when thedamper is in its middle position and will tend to move the damper to itsmiddle position when it ismoved from such position in either direction.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig-

